849 replies to this topic

[Fiske]

Well what do you know. An EON 120 did somehow find its way to my door. 

 

[norvegicus]

That will be an interesting instrument to compare to the C6.

[Erik Bakker]

Congrats Fiske, that should be a bringer of joy under the stars 

[Fiske]

Thank you, Erik. 

 

Jon "the EON Pied-Piper" Isaacs was a helpful adviser in this choice. 

[revans]

I've been wrestling with something for over a year and finally realized how to articulate it. I need to find the right telescope to support my binoculars.   

 

It's an ironic problem to have because the common scenario is the reverse -- a binocular used as a finding aid to support telescopes. We are occasionally reminded of this by helpful telescope aficionados.  Binocular enthusiasts may ask, do we really need telescopes? Why? Well, certainly not as a finding aid, given how much easier navigation is with binoculars. But telescopes do have possible edge case uses. 

 

Here I was last night with the Oberwerk 100XL-SD and my trusty friend of decades, the TV-101, enjoying its first ride on my iOptron Tri-pier.

 

 

I was comparing views of 6 Trianguli between the 100XL configured with the left OTA at 112x and the right at 40x as a finder considering a question posed by binofrac about using one side of a BT for higher magnification views (thus removing the difficulty of attempting to align dual tiny exit pupils).

 

STF 227 / 6 Trianguli
02h12m +30*18'
5.162/6.613 sep 3.88" pa 67.2*

 

 

 

I was able to resolve the double with both the 100XL and the TV-101, though the view with the latter was slightly cleaner and more refined (as expected). While using a BT in dual mode like this for double stars is workable it's not ideal for a reason that might be overlooked without doing actual side by side comparisons. Using the helical focusers on BTs at high magnification is a pain in the kizitz, and even more so in cold weather when the darn things stiffen up. Swapping eyepieces and focusing with a telescope on the other hand is simplicity itself.

 

So this is my personal use case. Is it possible to resolve closer (under 4-second) double stars with binocular telescopes? Certainly. But it is difficult to manage by mere mortals (particularly the bespectacled) who do not possess high magnification BT super powers (ahem), and more easily accomplished with a telescope. There. I said it. And yes, I know other use-cases exist, like chasing down fuzzy bits of galactic lint with larger aperture telescopes, but that's not on the celestial menu for urban astronomy.

 

What telescope to choose?

 

I added an Orion CC8 Classical Cassegrain last year, thinking it would be an ideal option for double stars beyond the relaxed BT range, not to mention the occasional planetary nebula and etc. But I have rarely used it. Why? It's a lot of work to set it up. It's much easier to plonk the TV-101 on the iOptron Bino-Bracket (a recent happy discovery), and I'm not going to lie, that configuration is a lot of fun, but still nowhere near as easy as setting up a BT or p-gram (a minute or two for either). I've decided to try a StellarVue M002C head on the 161MK2B mount as a quicker setup option for the TV-101, but that will involve manual finding and tracking so we'll see.

 

This morning I thought of an ideal quick set-up, easy-to-use option for double-star peeks -- a Celestron NexStar 6SE. It's light, can be set up in a few minutes, and has goto for easy finding and tracking at high magnification. Plus thrifty -- sort of the telescope equivalent of a value-priced binocular, which has a certain cachet to it.

 

So how about it binocular enthusiasts? What is your ideal support telescope? Or do you need one?

 

I've been using a C5. The advantages are that it is small and light weight and can be used on minimal mounts. And it can be used with or without the 0.63x focal reducer.  I use it to go to higher magnifications than the BT is designed for. 

 

Rick

[Echolight]

Well what do you know. An EON 120 did somehow find its way to my door. 

 

That looks bigger and heavier than a TV101. 

[Fiske]

That looks bigger and heavier than a TV101. 

  

 

I don't know if it is actually heavier than the TV-101. It's on the lighter side for a 120mm, under 15 lbs. But it is bigger than I had anticipated.  I was considering the Astro-Tech 125 EDL, which is even bigger. I'm glad things worked out with the EON.

 

I'm very happy with it and eager for firstlight. It certainly makes an interesting comparison with the 6SE.

[Echolight]

  

 

I don't know if it is actually heavier than the TV-101. It's on the lighter side for a 120mm, under 15 lbs. But it is bigger than I had anticipated.  I was considering the Astro-Tech 125 EDL, which is even bigger. I'm glad things worked out with the EON.

 

I'm very happy with it and eager for firstlight. It certainly makes an interesting comparison with the 6SE.

It's a beauty! I think Jon was right, that with that KUO tube and focuser, it's a cut above the Synta with the same glass.

 

I have my new 10 inch dob out tonight. It's a little better than my C8 on everything,.... although harder to aim. And I'm sure it'll show it's stuff on some fainter objects.

But for pinpoint stars, the yard cannon still rules. As long as they're not Sirius.

 

Maybe I should get a 120 apo.

 

But I have been inspired to spend some time with the 6SE. I didn't much care for goto in the past. But the SE mount is pretty easy. And double stars is a good reason to use it.

Edited by Echolight, 03 December 2023 - 12:15 AM.

[Rich V.]

It's a beauty! I think Jon was right, that with that KUO tube and focuser, it's a cut above the Synta with the same glass.

 

FWIW, the EON is sourced from Long Perng, not KUO.  

[Echolight]

FWIW, the EON is sourced from Long Perng, not KUO.  

Oh yeah. I forgot. I think my Barska Magnus is a Long Perng.

[Fiske]

 

  

 

The Stellarvue M002C / Manfrotto 161MK2B tripod combo is perfect for the EON 120. And will take about 2 minutes to deploy. With no goto alignment needed. About the only question is how much of a nuisance will it be to track manually at 200-250x? We'll see. 

 

I'm thinking to dispense with the finder scope and just go with a red dot finder. The older Orion finder base is not compatible with the dovetail adapter on the EON, unfortunately. So I'm going to look for an RDF that can be attached the mounting rings. 

 

 

Or! 3D print a mounting ring adapter for the Telrad finder I have had for 20+ years. That has a certain cachet to it... 

Edited by Fiske, 03 December 2023 - 04:42 PM.

[Bill Barlow]

Nice looking scope/mount combo, Fiske.  Unfortunately first light will be delayed due to clouds..maybe by Wednesday evening skies will cooperate but the south wind will be blowing a bit.  Tuesday evening might have some breaks in the clouds but it will be on the cold side.

 

Bill

[Fiske]

Nice looking scope/mount combo, Fiske.  Unfortunately first light will be delayed due to clouds..maybe by Wednesday evening skies will cooperate but the south wind will be blowing a bit.  Tuesday evening might have some breaks in the clouds but it will be on the cold side.

 

Bill

Thanks, Bill. 

 

I have two support telescopes waiting for first light.  (So a double weather whammy.)

 

Plus this...

 

[Echolight]

Wooowee! That's a looker!

 

I love a shiny black telescope. And just enough chrome. 

[Terra Nova]

Is that the Genesis Terra?  Never got to look through one. So you prefer it to the Vixen 4-inch?   It reminds me of the TV102 I had for years before I converted to Tak

It’s the Genesis SDF, 101mm ap, 540mm f.l., SD glass objective, Fluorite element in the rear Petzval reducer/flattener. I really like them both, they are different instruments really. The TV goes with me to outreaches, club events, dark sites; the Vixen gets used mostly at home. The TV goes wider, the Vixen goes higher. They’re both great scopes and handle well on their respective mounts.

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Edited by Terra Nova, 04 December 2023 - 02:21 PM.

[Fiske]

After mulling over the finder requirements for the EON 120, I realized that the Mini Borg 60ED finder will be an essential for positioning high-magnification views.

 

So, I'm working on a 3D adapter for the standard red dot finder that works with the Orion adapter shoe, which is cleverly not compatible with older EZ finders or other raised red dot designs because pan head screws are used to fasten the shoe in place and the finder bases don't have adequate clearance.

 

Finding a dovetail rail that can be attached to the mounting rings for the Mini Borg is not the most straight forward thing. I've decided to give this Vixen style rail a try.

[evanikoff]

I had to file a width and length under an Orion Dual Finder Scope Mounting Bracket to get it to clear those screws.

[therealdmt]

 

  

 

The Stellarvue M002C / Manfrotto 161MK2B tripod combo is perfect for the EON 120. And will take about 2 minutes to deploy. With no goto alignment needed. About the only question is how much of a nuisance will it be to track manually at 200-250x? We'll see. 

 

Schweet

[Fiske]

Schweet

Thanks!

 

The 6SE has its work cut out for it competing with the EON 120 on that M002C mount. 

[Fiske]

I had to file a width and length under an Orion Dual Finder Scope Mounting Bracket to get it to clear those screws.

Thank you for chiming in, Evan. 

 

The idea of filing down the base did occur to me. 

[Fiske]

Here is the EON 120 all dolled up with a red dot finder and the Mini Borg 60ED. 

 

 

A nylon screw needs to be added as a safety stop on the lower end of the dovetail plate, which was same day delivery from Amazon and well-suited as a secure perch for the Mini Borg. The 3D printed dovetail adapter for the red dot was spot on first shot out of the box (which doesn't happen that often  ). 

 

Here is a closeup of the adapter.

 

 

I don't know if I have ever been so pleased with a commercial telescope as I am with the EON 120. And I haven't even looked at a single star with it yet. 

 

It will make a fine companion for binoculars and BTs. 

 

  

Edited by Fiske, 05 December 2023 - 10:27 PM.

[therealdmt]

Wow, Fiske; that’s like a dream setup. You don’t go half measures.

 

Happy observing

[Echolight]

Here is the EON 120 all dolled up with a red dot finder and the Mini Borg 60ED. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't know if I have ever been so pleased with a commercial telescope as I am with the EON 120. And I haven't even looked at a single star with it yet. 

 

It will make a fine companion for binoculars and BTs. 

 

  

Yeah. You suck 

now I want one!

[Fiske]

Wow, Fiske; that’s like a dream setup. You don’t go half measures.

 

Happy observing

 

 

Yeah. You suck 

now I want one!

  

 

Thanks, guys. 

 

It's come together remarkably well, with bits and pieces gathered up over the years along with a few new items. I'm really happy to have obtained the scope from another CloudyNights member. The 27mm Panoptic is from Jordan. The Astro-Tech diagonal is borrowed from the AT80 I won in a CloudyNights review contest (with the Mini Borg 60 review) over 20 years ago.  

 

The eclectic combination makes it unique and special.

 

  

[dmorrow]

Awesome rig   Looking forward to the shootout!